Garrett remembers Hurd ‘as a guy who always took advantage of his opportunities’

Then Dallas Cowboy Sam Hurd answers questions from the media after morning practice at training camp, July 25, 2010, at the Alamodome. (Express-News file photo)

San Antonio Brackenridge graduate Sam Hurd may be a convicted felon after pleading guilty in April to drug charges in a federal courtroom in Dallas, but that didn’t stop Cowboys coach Jason Garrett from recalling the former receiver’s ability to take advantage of his opportunities.

“He made a lot of big plays as a fourth or fifth receiver,” Garrett told reporters Wednesday in Irving in the context of a question about Miles Austin’s record-setting breakout performance against Kansas City in 2009.

“(Hurd) made his way in this league because he was an outstanding special teams player, for any position, but particularly for the receiver position. Whenever we gave him a chance, he always came up huge, always made the play and always seemed to do a positive thing for our team.”

Hurd, who awaits sentencing, joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent along with Austin in 2006. He signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bears after the 2010 season.

In December 2011, Hurd was arrested in Chicago on federal drug charges during an undercover sting operation. He faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years to life.